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Studies show that marriage and divorce can cause major fluctuations in body weight, particularly in women.

The American Sociological Association carried out research on 10,071 individuals, over a period of time from 1986 to 2008, to determine any changes in body weight throughout this timescale.

In order to see if marriage and divorce were factors in weight increase, the researchers compared the body mass index between those who were newly married or divorced, with those who were either already married at the time, and those who were single. Interestingly, the study found that people who were within two years of a marriage or divorce, were at the highest risk of large increases in weight gain.

The study revealed that marriage caused a 33% risk of a small increase in women, whereas with those who were newly divorced, this figure was 22%. Men who were recently married, had a 28% risk of a small weight increased, and a 21% risk after divorce...

A group of international researchers have released a series of articles in the Lancet on the catastrophic effects that high levels of obesity are having on the state system.

It has been well documented in the press that the levels of obesity are continuing to rise, and if the government does not take some action soon, it could have overwhelming effects on NHS resources. Society changes can be a catalyst for people finding it more difficult to live a healthy and more active lifestyle.

Obesity can cause a number of health problems, with the most common being diabetes, which now accounts for between 2% and 6% of the total cost of healthcare in most countries. The US and UK are two of the developed countries with the most worrying levels of obesity. It is thought that if the rate of obesity continues to rise, the cost to the NHS could be around £2.5 billion by 2030. This is a figure which it would simply not have the means to accommodate.

Shocking figures which have been released by the Office for National Statistics, show that the number of females who are dying through drug poisoning, has taken a sharp rise.

In 2009, there were 780 drug related deaths, but by 2010 this figure had increased to 857. This is an overall increase of 9%. Even more worryingly, a staggering 46% of these deaths were down to suicide.

In contrast to these figures, the number of men who died from drug poisoning in 2010, has taken quite a drop from 2009. In 2009, there were 2,098 male fatalities through drug abuse, whereas in 2010 this figure had dropped to 1,890. This is an overall decline of 10%.

Other drug related statistics from the Office for National Statistics, show that instances of cocaine related deaths have also fallen quite dramatically. In 2010, there were 144 deaths related to this substance, which is a fall of 29% from the previous year. The number of cocaine related deaths...

On the 30th March 2011, the Alcohol Marketing Bill, which was proposed by MP, Dr Sarah Wollaston, had its first reading at the House of Commons. It was introduced under the Ten Minute Rule and is, what is known as, a Private Member’s Bill.

This Bill looks at alcohol marketing, the ways in which it has an influence over the drinking habits of young people and the methods to take to reduce these effects. For example, the Bill will look at the potential banning of alcohol promotion before 9pm, and the ways in which the Internet disguises alcohol advertising, in an attempt to try and reduce the impact of alcohol marketing on the alcohol patterns of young people.

There is growing concern over the figures regarding the impact of alcohol on young people, and alcohol marketing is seen by some as playing a role in these statistics. The Department of Health released figures showing that females have the highest alcohol dependency within the age group 16-24, and there is...

There are a host of health problems associated with smoking, and one of the hardest to treat is problems with the lungs. If you smoke, you instantly increase the risk of getting lung cancer. Statistics from Cancer Research UK show that 40,800 people were diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK in 2008, and 35,260 people died from the condition in the same year. These figures show how difficult the cancer is to treat and how low the survival rate is; one of the lowest of any cancers. It is the second most common cancer in the UK, after breast cancer.

Studies in the US show that men who smoke can increase their risk of dying by 22 times, and women by up to 12 times. The World Lung Foundation which was established in 2004, is an organisation which works to reverse the epidemic of lung conditions, particularly for those in low and middle income countries. Cancer Research UK also does a lot of work to try and combat cancer by raising money to develop treatments.

Obesity in the UK is becoming a more common problem than ever before. In 2009, it was reported by the NHS that almost a quarter of adults in England were diagnosed as obese, and the number of recorded admissions to hospital due to obesity rose by more than 30% last year. It also reported that more men than women were classified as obese, and those with the condition were more prone to high blood pressure.

There are a number of simple steps you can take to reduce the amount of calories you intake and methods to help you lose weight. Cutting down on carbohydrates is one of the easiest and most successful ways of reducing your calorie intake. Foods with high carbohydrates, such as pasta and white bread, are full of sugar and bad fats, and consumption should be kept as a treat, rather than as part of your daily diet. Eating more ‘good fats’ found in meat, will help reduce your waistline.

Good portion control is another successful method of keeping your weight...

Often, when we picture an alcoholic, we usually conjure up an image of a middle aged person who drinks every day and all day. However, this is not always the case. Many people have an alcohol addiction, without even recognising it.

Startling figures from the UK wide charity Drinkaware, show that an estimated 1 in 17 people in Great Britain are alcohol dependant, many of whom are young people. Statistics from the Department of Health report that alcohol dependency in females is highest among 16-24 year olds, and in men among 25-34 year olds.

With this in mind, how does a person become aware of having an addiction to alcohol?

The recommended daily intake of alcohol for females is 2-3 units per day, which is the equivalent of 1.3 x 175ml glasses of wine. Males should have an intake of no more than 3-4 units per day; the equivalent of 1.7 pints of 4% lager.

If you find yourself drinking more than this, then it is worth assessing whether you have an...

According to a US study published in health journal The Lancet, the risk of heart disease caused by smoking is 25% higher among females than it is among males.

The study, which was conducted by experts from the University of Minnesota and the University of Maryland involved pooling data on approximately 4 million individuals from 86 different studies.

After taking into account various risk factors, the researchers concluded that the increased risk of heart disease linked to smoking was 25% higher for females than for males.

Though the exact reason for the difference is unknown, experts believe it could be linked to toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke having a more potent effect on women due to biological differences.

The study also revealed that the longer a women smoked for the greater her risk of heart disease was compared to men who had been smoking for the same amount of time. For each year a women smoked, her risk of heart disease...

A US study recently published in the journal Cancer has revealed that individuals who light up first thing in the morning stand a higher risk of developing cancer than those who have their first cigarette later on in the day.

The study in question looked at 7,610 smokers, 4,776 of whom had lung cancer and 2,835 of whom did not. The results showed that patients who smoked within the first 30 minutes after waking up were 70% more likely to have developed cancer than those who waited for a minimum of an hour.

The researchers said that even after they statistically adjusted the results to take into account other factors such as the number of cigarettes smoked per day, the negative affects of having a cigarette within 30 minutes of waking up were still present.

An additional study which was published in the same Cancer journal looked at 1,850 smokers, 1,055 of whom were suffering from either cancer of the neck or head. Similarly to...

When we feel low, a common reaction is to reach into the fridge and pull out a bar of our favourite chocolate, order take-out or pig out on junk food, but what really is it about comfort eating which makes us feel better?

We have all been guilty of comfort eating at one point or another but when we are chowing down on that tub of ice cream we don’t give much thought to why we are actually doing it or if it is really helping. Well, you may be pleased to know that scientists have recently discovered that ‘comfort’ food does actually have a physical/molecular effect which helps to lift our mood, possibly explaining why it is that some individuals gain weight when they are feeling low or vulnerable.

The team of researchers were led by Dr Lukas Ouden from the University of Leuven in Belgium, and their study involved using MRI scans to gage the emotional impact and response to fat which was injected into the stomach.